Connector for multichannel transmission of optical signals through rotating interface

Abstract

A multichannel connector for transmission of optical signals between a number of input and output channels through a rotating interface is described. The connector comprises an input and an output platforms rotating around their common axis and an optical system connecting input optical signal channels to output optical channels independent on relative rotation of the platforms. The connector conserves both the amplitude and phase of the optical signals transmitted between the input and output channels. The optical system comprises either a combination of lenses and prism rings or single computer generated hologram. It can be used, for example, for connection between input and output bundles of optical fibers through a rotation interface without cross talk of the optical signals. The connector can find important industrial, military and medical applications where the optical signals from a number of channels are to be transmitted through rotating junctions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for optical connection between at least two input and two output optical channels comprising: an input platform;   an output platform;   an axis around which at least one of the platforms can be rotated;    said input and output channels are fixed with respect to said input and output platforms respectively and at least one of said platforms has an optical system linking said channels in a permanent manner independent of the relative rotation of the platforms, wherein: said optical system generally comprises: an input and an output part fixed on corresponding input and output platforms;   said input part of said optical system collects light beams coming from each individual input channel of said input platform and projects them onto non-overlapping beam spots on an input optical plane of said output rotating platform which is perpendicular to said axis;   centers of each said beam spots on said input optical plane are located at certain distances from said axis of connector so that said beam spots move along rings in said input optical plane concentric with said axis of the connector as said platforms are mutually rotated;   said output part of said optical system fixed on said output rotating platform collects all light beams coming from said rings in said input optical plane of said output platform and focuses each of them into non-overlapping output beam spots located along a circle in an output optical plane, where said circle is concentric with said axis of connector, such that, positions of said output spots remain independent of relative rotation of said input and output platforms; light of each said output beam spots is finally coupled into a corresponding output channel of said rotating output platform.     
     
     
       2. A system for optical connection between optical channels of claim 1, wherein said optical system linking said channels comprises: a lens optically connected with a system of nonoverlapping concentric prism rings; the number of said prism rings is equal to the number of input and output optical channels;   each of said prism rings has an optical axis, a certain width and a gradient vector indicating a direction of increasing of the prism thickness;   said optical axis of all said prism rings coincides with said optical axis of said connector, width of each prism ring is not smaller than width of corresponding said rings on said input optical plane of said output platform and said gradient vectors of said ring prisms are consequently rotated around said optical axis relative to each other over some angles to prevent overlapping of output beam spots located along a circle in said output optical plane of the output platforms concentric with said connector's axis.   
     
     
       3. A system for optical connection between optical channels of claim 2, wherein a computer generated hologram is used instead of said lens and ring prisms to perform equivalent light focusing functions like a combination of said lens and prism rings. 
     
     
       4. A system for optical connection between optical channels of claim 1, wherein input optical channels comprise at least two optical fibers, said input part of said optical system further comprises end faces of said optical fibers adjusted to said input optical plane of the output rotating platform. 
     
     
       5. A system for optical connection between optical channels of claim 4, wherein output optical channels comprise at least two optical fibers, said output beam spots in said output optical plane of said output platform are projected onto end faces of said output fibers to match their apertures to corresponding apertures of said output fibers.